Building structure for crawl space mounted apparatus

ABSTRACT

A building structure for crawl space mounted air conditioning apparatus comprises a crawl space defined by at least one crawl space wall including at least one exterior wall within which a ducted condensing unit (DCU) of the air conditioning apparatus is mountable. The crawl space is configured with at least one through-hole opening formed in the at least one exterior wall for enclosing an element of the air conditioning apparatus which is in fluid communication with the DCU.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of building structures. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a building structure for crawlspace mounted air conditioning apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many air conditioning systems are of the split type that comprises anoutdoor unit that includes a compressor, condenser and fan for drawingambient air across the condenser, an indoor unit including an evaporatorand a fan for drawing the interior air across the evaporator so that theconditioned air will be discharged to the space to be conditioned, and aconduit through which refrigerant flows in a closed cooling or heatingcycle between the outdoor and indoor units.

However, the outdoor unit housed in a large-sized casing is unsightlyand also adds noise pollution. These deficiencies are exacerbated in anurban environment or in a multi-family dwelling where a high populationdensity results in a proliferation of outdoor units.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a building structurethat facilitates the installation of a split air conditioning systemthat does not detract from the appearance of the building, yet thatprovides a superior air conditioning effect.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A building structure for crawl space mounted air conditioning apparatuscomprises a crawl space defined by at least one crawl space wallincluding at least one exterior wall within which a ducted condensingunit (DCU) of the air conditioning apparatus is mountable, said crawlspace being configured with at least one through-hole opening formed insaid at least one exterior wall for enclosing an element of the airconditioning apparatus which is in fluid communication with the DCU.

In one embodiment, the at least one through-hole opening is a ductopening within which an air discharge duct extending from an exhaustopening of the DCU is fixed.

The crawl space may be additionally configured with at least onepenetration formed in a ceiling of the crawl space, a correspondingconduit through which flows a refrigerant adapted to condition at leastone interior room of the building extending upwardly through said atleast one penetration to an indoor unit of the air conditioningapparatus. When the at least one penetration is formed in a centralregion of the crawl space ceiling that overlies the DCU, for example, avent opening formed in an additional exterior crawl space wall that isspaced from the crawl space wall to which the duct opening for the airdischarge duct is fixed remains unblocked by the DCU.

The additional exterior crawl space wall may be formed with a ductopening within which an air intake duct extending to an intake openingof the DCU is fixed.

In another embodiment, the at least one through-hole opening is apenetration through which passes a corresponding conduit forfacilitating the flow therethrough of a refrigerant adapted to conditionat least one interior room of the building to an indoor unit of the airconditioning apparatus.

In one aspect, the crawl space is additionally configured with a drainelement through which condensate produced by the DCU is dischargeable.

In one aspect, the building structure is further configured with one ormore mounting elements for mounting the DCU, wherein the DCU has acasing for enclosing DCU components including a freestanding compressorand a condenser coil, said one or more mounting elements configured tomount the casing having a maximum height approximately equal to theheight of the compressor and less than the height of the at least oneexterior crawl space wall.

In another embodiment, the at least one through-hole opening is anopening through which DCU exhaust air is exhausted to the atmosphere andthe one or more mounting elements is a frame member surrounding theopening through which DCU exhaust air is exhausted to the atmosphere,wherein said frame member is configured in such a way that an exhaustopening of the DCU is aligned with the opening through which DCU exhaustair is exhausted to the atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front of a crawl space;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front of a building, showinganother type of crawl space;

FIG. 3 is a perspective and schematic, exploded view of one type of aducted condensing unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the top of another type of a ductedcondensing unit, showing with the casing thereof partially removed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of a building structure, according toone embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of an exterior crawl space wall usable inconjunction with the building structure of FIG. 5, showing athrough-hole opening formed therewithin for enclosing an airconditioning element;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a casing of a ducted condensing unitused in conjunction with the building structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a casing of a ducted condensing unitused in conjunction with another embodiment of a building structure; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a building structure, according toanother embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A building structure facilitates the mounting of the outdoor unit of asplit-type air conditioning system within a crawl space of the building.The building structure includes at least one through-hole opening formedin an exterior wall of the crawl space for enclosing an element of theair conditioning system.

A crawl space is generally used to elevate the lowest floors ofresidential buildings above a base flood elevation, and is surrounded bycrawl space walls typically ranging in height ranging from two to fourft. An individual entering the crawl space, due to its low height, isforced to move around the crawl space on his hands and knees. While acrawl space cannot be used as living space, it can be a convenient andinconspicuous place to install building service elements, such aselectrical, plumbing, and ventilating elements. The underlying surfaceof the crawl space is often soil, although a finished floor may beprovided.

An exemplary crawl space 5 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Crawl space 5 isdelimited by a crawl space exterior wall 7 that may be flush with theexterior wall 9 of the overlying first floor. Vent opening 2, generallyrectangular, formed in crawl space wall 7 provides access to thebuilding service elements installed within crawl space 5, as well as theair flow needed for ventilation purposes. A screen 11 may be positionedwithin vent opening 2 to allow air to flow therethrough, but preventingthe passage of animals, insects, and debris. If so desired, vent opening2 may be provided with a closure 12 such as a window pane that can beselectively opened and closed. Crawl space 5 may span the entire surfacearea of the building, or only a portion thereof.

Due to the low height of the crawl space walls 7, crawl space 5 is notsuitable for the installation therewithin of a conventional outdoor unithaving a height of approximately 40 in. Even if the outside unit wereable to be physically positioned within the crawl space, the axial fanlocated at the top of the outside unit and rotating about a verticalaxis, which is adapted to draw air across the condenser to assist incondensing the high pressure and high temperature refrigerant dischargedfrom the compressor, would be spaced by only a few inches from the crawlspace ceiling. The small clearance between the fan and the crawl spaceceiling restricts the flow of heated air exiting the fan, resulting inoverheating and possible malfunction of the fan and of the compressor.In some outdoor units, an axial fan rotating about a horizontal axis isused. If such an outdoor unit were in use in a crawl space, the exhaustair could not be discharged to the atmosphere, and the closed confinedcrawl space would eventually overheat.

FIG. 2 illustrates another type of crawl space. The illustrated crawlspace 15 is a below-deck crawl space that is defined between anunderlying ground surface 16 and a deck 17, generally elevated above anincline associated with ground surface 16. The small clearanceassociated with crawl space 15 is also unsuitable for the installationtherewithin of a conventional outdoor unit.

The use of a ducted condensing unit (DCU) 20A schematically illustratedin FIG. 3 will obviate the geometric constraints related to mounting anoutside unit within a crawl space. DCU 20A comprises compressor 21,condenser coil 24, which may be of a multidirectional shape, throughwhich flows pressurized refrigerant received from compressor, one ormore centrifugal fans 25, and PCB 26 for controlling the operation ofcompressor 21 and each fan 25. Air is drawn into intake opening 28,which may be protected by a grille, by each centrifugal fan 25 and isforced to flow, in accordance with the configuration of condenser coil24 and the DCU casing 27, across the width of condenser coil 24 andalong the entire length thereof in order to condense the refrigerant.The exhaust heat transferred from the refrigerant to the air flowexiting condenser coil 24 is drawn through each centrifugal fan 25 anddischarged through each exhaust opening 29.

As opposed to the conventional large-dimensioned outdoor unit thatemploys an axial fan rotating about a vertical axis to induce air flowaxially along the shaft of the fan blades, DCU 20A employs the one ormore centrifugal fans 25 to induce radial air flow, generally 90 degreesrelative to the horizontally oriented shaft driving the fan wheel onwhich are mounted backward-curved blades. The outer diameter of eachcentrifugal fan housing from which the radial air flow exits through acorresponding exhaust opening 29 under the influence of centrifugalforce is therefore able to be significantly smaller than the outerdiameter of an axial fan, resulting in a relatively small DCU height ofapproximately 11 inches that can easily be mounted in a crawl spacewithout being subjected to overheating.

Alternatively, a DCU 20B schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 may beused. DCU 20B having a similar configuration as DCU 20A of FIG. 3 mayemploy a plurality of axial fans 32 provided with a horizontallyoriented shaft, allowing the height of the axial fans to be less thanthe freestanding compressor 21 and the height of DCU casing 37 to beapproximately 11 inches.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustratesbuilding structure 40, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. Building structure 40 is configured with interior crawl space5 located directly below lowermost floor 42. Interior crawl space 5 isdefined by at least first crawl space wall 7 formed with vent opening 2and by second crawl space wall 47, which are shown to be mutuallyparallel.

DCU 30 is positioned at a central region of crawl space 5, so as not toblock vent opening 2 and to permit passage of a maintenance workertherethrough in order to access the building service elements, ifinstalled within the crawl space. DCU 30, shown to be significantlyspaced from crawl space ceiling 41, is also positioned to the side of orunderneath the building service elements, by virtue of the small DCUdimensions. The casing of DCU 30 may be attached to crawl space floor 37via one or more mounting elements 31 or, alternatively, may bepositioned in freestanding unattached relation with respect to crawlspace floor 37 when unfinished, such as an earthen floor.

The mounting of DCU 30 within the confines of an interior crawl space 5advantageously allows it to operate under reduced heating and coolingloads than a conventional outdoor unit mounted outdoors and exposed tooutside conditions.

Another advantage of the central positioning of DCU 30 is that theintake and exhaust air is able to be separated. If DCU 20A of FIG. 3configured with intake opening 28 and exhaust opening 29 being in sideby side relation were employed without use of externally mounted ducts,the heated exhaust air often infiltrates into the intake air, loweringthe thermodynamic efficiency of the cycle due to the increasedtemperature of the intake air. The exhaust air is hot when DCU 30 isoperating in a cooling mode and is cold when DCU 30 is operating in aheating mode.

The casing 31 of DCU 30, which facilitates efficient operation of theair conditioning system in conjunction with building structure 40, isillustrated in FIG. 7. Casing 31 has a rectilinear configuration,although other configurations are also possible. Front and rear serviceaccess panels 33 are provided to ensure that intake opening 38 andexhaust opening 39 will be substantially mutually parallel. DCU 30 maybe of the same height of DCU 20A of FIG. 3, and comprises the same airconditioning components as DCU 20A, while the internal arrangement ofthe air conditioning components is different to accommodate thesubstantially mutually parallel relation of intake opening 38 andexhaust opening 39. The substantially mutually parallel relation ofintake opening 38 and exhaust opening 39 ensures that the exhaust airwill not infiltrate into the intake air even if externally mounted ductswere not employed.

Referring back to FIG. 5, second exterior crawl space wall 47 ofbuilding structure 40 is formed with a duct opening 49 within which anair discharge duct 52, e.g. metallic, extending from exhaust opening 39of DCU 30 is fixed. Air discharge duct 52 may be coupled, releasably orfixedly, to the periphery of exhaust opening 39 and of duct opening 49by a corresponding bracket, or other mounting means 56 well known tothose skilled in the art. The heated exhaust air flows through airdischarge duct 52 from exhaust opening 39 of DCU 30 to duct opening 49,from which it is exhausted to the atmosphere, thus preventingoverheating of crawl space 5 and infiltration into the intake air.

Building structure 40 may also be configured with an air intake duct 51extending from duct opening 48 formed in exterior crawl space wall 7 tointake opening 38 of DCU 30, to the periphery of which it is coupled bymounting means 56. As shown in FIG. 6, duct opening 48 is formed to theside of vent opening 2 to accommodate air intake duct 51 withoutblocking the entry of a maintenance worker through vent opening 2. Agrille may be mounted onto one or more of duct opening 48, air intakeduct 51 and air discharge duct 52, directly or by means of an adapter,as protection against environmental conditions.

It will be appreciated that building structure 40 may be configuredwithout an air intake duct since an adequate flow of intake air may besupplied via vent opening, depending on the geographical location and onthe given time or season.

In another embodiment, when there is a sufficient supply of intake airvia the vent opening, building structure 40 may be configured withoutboth an air intake duct and an air discharge duct. A ductless DCU may bemounted on exterior crawl space wall 47 by a frame member surroundingopening 49 in such a way that the exhaust opening of the DCU is alignedwith opening 49, allowing the exhaust air to be exhausted to theatmosphere.

Building structure 40 is also configured with one or more penetrations57 formed in crawl space ceiling 41 to accommodate the extensiontherethrough of a corresponding number of vertically extending conduits59, e.g. copper conduits, through which the refrigerant circulatesbetween DCU 30 and indoor unit 62 and through which electrical wires mayextend. When the building is a multi-story building and indoor unit 62is mounted in attic space 68, although it will be appreciated thatindoor unit 62 may be mounted in any other suitable interior space,building structure 40 is also configured with one or more penetrations66 and 67 formed in the ceiling of first floor 42 and second floor 64,respectively, through which each conduit 59 extends. Indoor unit 62 mayoperate in conjunction with a central air conditioning system.

When indoor unit 62 is a heat exchanger operable in a cooling mode,cooled liquid refrigerant under high pressure exits the condenser coilof DCU 30 and flows upwardly to an expansion valve of indoor unit 62,which restricts the flow of the refrigerant and causes its pressure tobe reduced. The low-pressure liquid refrigerant flows to the evaporator,across which interior air from an interior room of building structure 40to be conditioned is drawn by the fan of indoor unit 62, and absorbsheat from the interior air. The conditioned air is discharged to theinterior room, and the refrigerant is changed to a gaseous state. Theheated low-pressure gaseous refrigerant then flows downwardly to thecompressor of DCU 30 to repeat the cycle.

Indoor unit 62 may also be configured as an air handling unit (AHU)comprising a mixing box within which is blended air from a return ductexiting the room to be conditioned and air from a supply duct, and ablower for forcing the blended air to flow across an evaporatorcontaining the refrigerant, or as a fan coil unit (FCU) provided with acoil through which the refrigerant flows and a fan to condition a roomwithout being connecting to ductwork.

Building structure 40 may also be configured with a drain element 69through which condensate produced, for example in a heating mode, isdischargeable. Drain element 69 may be provided in proximity to thecondenser coil, or to any other region of DCU 30.

Drain element 69 may be a pipe that is installed at the lowest point ofcrawl space 5 and that slopes underground towards the street, or may bea perforated pipe installed in a trench and surrounded with drain rock.The collected condensate may be gravitationally drained, for example tothe sewerage system of the building, or may be delivered by a pump to adrain system. Drain element 69 may pass through a thin polymeric vaporbarrier placed over a dirt crawl space floor adapted to reduce theamount of water vapor transfer from the dirt crawl space floor to thecrawl space air. Alternatively, drain element 69 may be any other drainelement well known to those skilled in the art.

For the cooling mode, a drain element, e.g. elongated, may be fixatedwithin a vertical drain pipe extending through penetrations 57, 66 and67, to receive condensate generated by indoor unit 62. Such a drainelement is configured in such a way to discharge the condensate whilebypassing DCU 30.

In another embodiment, a DCU 70 shown in FIG. 8 may be employed. Casing71 of DCU 70 has a rectilinear configuration, although otherconfigurations are also possible. Access panels 74 and 75 are providedto ensure that intake opening 78 and exhaust opening 79 will besubstantially mutually perpendicular. DCU 70 may be of the same heightof DCU 20A of FIG. 3, and comprises the same air conditioning componentsas DCU 20A, while the internal arrangement of the air conditioningcomponents is different to accommodate the substantially mutuallyperpendicular relation of intake opening 78 and exhaust opening 79. Thesubstantially mutually perpendicular relation of intake opening 78 andexhaust opening 79 ensures that the exhaust air will not infiltrate intothe intake air even if externally mounted ducts were not employed. Airintake and air discharge ducts, if employed, are mounted in crawl spacewalls that are angularly spaced from each other, for exampleperpendicular to each other.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates building structure 80, according toanother embodiment of the invention, which is configured with crawlspace 15 located directly below deck 17. Below-deck crawl space 15 isdefined at least by ground surface 16, deck 17 and crawl space wall 87,which is an extension of the exterior wall 9 of the overlying firstfloor. DCU 90, which may be configured according to any embodimentdescribed herein, is mounted externally onto crawl space wall 87 byframe member 82. One or more penetrations 86 are formed in crawl spacewall 87 to accommodate the extension therethrough of a correspondingnumber of conduits 59, e.g. copper conduits, through which therefrigerant circulates between DCU 90 and the previously describedindoor unit 62 and through which electrical wires may also extend. Eachof the conduits 59 may extend horizontally into an adjacent basement 88,and then vertically through penetrations 57, 66 and 67 to indoor unit62.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way ofillustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried outwith many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use ofnumerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scopeof persons skilled in the art, without exceeding the scope of theclaims.

1. A building structure for crawl space mounted air conditioningapparatus, comprising a crawl space defined by a crawl space floor whichis a lowermost surface of the building, a crawl space ceiling, and atleast one crawl space wall extending upwardly from said crawl spacefloor and including at least one exterior wall, within which said crawlspace a ducted condensing unit of the air conditioning apparatus ismountable, said crawl space being configured with at least onethrough-hole opening formed in said at least one exterior wall which isin fluid communication with the ducted condensing unit.
 2. The buildingstructure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one through-holeopening is a duct opening, wherein an air discharge duct for directingexhaust air discharged from an exhaust opening of the ducted condensingunit adapted to receive air exiting a condenser coil of the ductedcondensing unit is fixed within said duct opening.
 3. The buildingstructure according to claim 1, wherein the crawl space is additionallyconfigured with at least one penetration formed in the crawl spaceceiling, a corresponding conduit through which flows a refrigerantadapted to condition at least one interior room of the buildingextending upwardly through said at least one penetration to an indoorunit of the air conditioning apparatus.
 4. The building structureaccording to claim 3, wherein the at least one penetration is formed ina central region of the crawl space ceiling that overlies the ductedcondensing unit.
 5. The building structure according to claim 2, whereina vent opening formed in an additional exterior crawl space wall that isspaced from the exterior wall formed with the duct opening within whichthe air discharge duct is fixed remains unblocked by the ductedcondensing unit.
 6. The building structure according to claim 5, whereinthe additional exterior crawl space wall is formed with an additionalduct opening within which an air intake duct extending to an intakeopening of the ducted condensing unit is fixed.
 7. The buildingstructure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one through-holeopening is a penetration through which passes a corresponding conduitfor facilitating the flow therethrough of a refrigerant adapted tocondition at least one interior room of the building to an indoor unitof the air conditioning apparatus.
 8. The building structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the crawl space is additionally configured with adrain element through which condensate produced by the ducted condensingunit is dischargeable.
 9. The building structure according to claim 1,further configured with one or more mounting elements configured tomount a casing of the ducted condensing unit, wherein the casing isadapted to enclose ducted condensing unit components including afreestanding compressor for pressurizing circulating refrigerant and acondenser coil for condensing the pressurizing refrigerant and has aheight less than the height of the at least one exterior crawl spacewall.
 10. The building structure according to claim 9, wherein the atleast one through-hole opening is an opening through which ductedcondensing unit exhaust air is exhausted to the atmosphere and the oneor more mounting elements is a frame member surrounding the openingthrough which ducted condensing unit exhaust air is exhausted to theatmosphere, wherein said frame member is configured in such a way thatan exhaust opening of the ducted condensing unit is aligned with theopening through which ducted condensing unit exhaust air is exhausted tothe atmosphere.
 11. A building configured with crawl space mounted airconditioning apparatus, comprising: a) a crawl space defined by a crawlspace floor which is a lowermost surface of the building, a crawl spaceceiling, and at least one crawl space wall extending upwardly from saidcrawl space floor and including at least one exterior wall; and b) aducted condensing unit of the air conditioning apparatus which ismounted on said crawl space floor, wherein said crawl space isconfigured with at least one through-hole opening formed in said atleast one exterior wall which is in fluid communication with the ductedcondensing unit.
 12. The building according to claim 11, wherein theducted condensing unit comprises a fan, a freestanding compressor, acondenser coil, and a casing that encloses the compressor and condensercoil and that has a height which is less than one-half of the height ofthe at least one crawl space wall, to prevent overheating of the fan andof the compressor.
 13. The building according to claim 12, wherein thecrawl space is located directly below a lowermost floor of the building.14. The building according to claim 11, wherein the at least onethrough-hole opening is a duct opening within which an air dischargeduct extending from an exhaust opening of the ducted condensing unit isfixed.
 15. The building according to claim 14, wherein the crawl spaceis additionally configured with a vent opening formed in an additionalexterior crawl space wall that is spaced from the exterior wall formedwith the duct opening within which the air discharge duct is fixed, saidvent opening remaining unblocked by the ducted condensing unit.
 16. Thebuilding structure according to claim 11, wherein the crawl space isadditionally configured with at least one penetration formed in thecrawl space ceiling, a corresponding conduit through which flows arefrigerant adapted to condition at least one interior room of thebuilding extending upwardly through said at least one penetration to anindoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus.
 17. The buildingaccording to claim 16, wherein the at least one penetration is formed ina central region of the crawl space ceiling that overlies the ductedcondensing unit.
 18. The building according to claim 12, wherein thecrawl space is further configured with one or more mounting elementsconfigured to mount the casing of the ducted condensing unit onto thecrawl space floor.
 19. The building according to claim 11, wherein anelement of the air conditioning apparatus which is in fluidcommunication with the ducted condensing unit is enclosed by the atleast one through-hole opening.
 20. The building according to claim 19,wherein the element of the air conditioning apparatus which is enclosedby the at least one through-hole opening is a corresponding conduitthrough which flows a refrigerant for use in conditioning at least oneinterior room of the building.